1989 TVT release in a slimline jewel case, a single for this hit from 'Pretty Hate Machine'. Features four non-album tracks: three mixes of 'Sin' (Long, Dub & Short), plus a cover of Queen's 'Get Down Make Love'.

7 Reviews

Halo 4: Sin

Review by cdm72 in Books, Movies

April, 25 2008

Pros: "Get Down, Make Love"

Cons: The "different" versions of "Sin" weren't different enough.

On October 10, 1990, I was still unaware of Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails, or the effect they would have on me when I discovered them about 5 years later. Meanwhile, Trent Reznor, presumably also unaware of me, was releasing Halo 4: SIN. It would be another 6 years before I would stumble across this CD at the local Record Wear House in the Used Cds section. Having discovered NIN only recently through THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL and knowing I would probably love whatever was released with the NIN banner, I bought it.

Hmm.

Well, I did get the Get Down, Make Love cover, but Im still, 12 years later, undecided on how necessary are three not-so-different versions of whats not even the most interesting song on the original LP.

Sin is song #7 from PRETTY HATE MACHINE (Halo 2), the first full-length NIN album. In 1990 it was released as the 4th and final single from that album, which in turn spawned Halo 4, Sin.

The song itself is good. Originally it was one of my top 5 favorites from the album. Its got a driving beat with lots of mechanical and computerized sounds and the razorblade guitar Ive come to associate with Reznors style. The lyrics bring to mind a very angry kiss-off to someone the narrator doesnt necessarily want to say goodbye to:

You give me the anger. You give me the nerve. Carry out my sentence. Well I get what I deserve. I'm just an effigy to be disgraced. To be defaced. Your need for me has been replaced. And if I can't have everything well then just give me a taste.

For the most part, I think Sin is primarily famous for borrowing a line from a Clive Barker story (In the Hills, the Cities, I believe), Stale incense, old sweatwhich, admittedly, was pretty awesome when I came across it in BOOKS OF BLOODbut up against some pretty heavy competition, mostly the first 3 songs on the album, Sin is mashed potatoes to Head Like a Holes Stove Top Stuffing. You add Terrible Lie and Down in It, youre looking at the turkey and gravy, plus the pumpkin pie. And so I still cant figure out why we needed 3 alternate versions, Long, Dub and Short when the differences between them are so minimal.

Sin, Long is hard and aggressive with Trents vocals dripping anger and, at first, restraint, whereas Sin, Dub isnt much different, other than the fact the vocals have been removed and theres an effect or two added to balance it out. The drums and bass in the Dub version have a bit of an echo. Obviously, if youre gonna create a dance mix of any NIN song, Sin was the top runner in the early days. Its easy to imagine strobe lights and flailing Goths. But after about the first minute, it just kinda gets tedious. I dont fault Reznor or Sin personally I think all dance music, if it goes on long enough, sounds alike. And, unfortunately, theres absolutely nothing about Sin, Dub that sets it apart from a million other dance beats.

The monotony is broken up on Track 3 with the NIN cover of a Queen song, Get Down, Make Love from the 1977 record NEWS OF THE WORLD. Ive never heard the Queen version, but Ive spent the past 12 years so in awe of the NIN version, I sometimes wonder if I wouldnt be greatly disappointed. And Im a Queen fan.

This is the song where Reznor really gets to showcase his production skills. With a sample from THE CABINET OF CALIGARI, a rewound-tape effect, and a guitar sample from Queens We Will Rock You, Get Down, Make Love is at once filthy and desperately frustrated. His sense of rhythm and timing on this song always makes me smile.

The last version of Sin, the Short version (oddly, at 4:19, its still 13 seconds longer than the album version), features more vocals than the Long version, but after having heard the song twice already, were over it and ready to move on.

I dont think the problem with Halo 4 is the song itself, I think its in the similarities of the remixes. Its not just that the skeleton is the same in all three versions, but the organs, the hair, the skin . . . hell, they even have the same polio vaccine scar. The only difference is ones a bit taller and one doesnt talk as much. Otherwise, were looking at the same exact song 3 times. Sin is a good song, but lets be honest, 15 minutes of ANY song is too much.

This is my second-least played NIN cd. You dont buy Halo 4 because you love Sin. You buy it because youre a NIN fan and eventually it will complete the set. Plus, Get Down, Make Love is AWESOME.